When Microsoft announced that they would be releasing a new Xbox One Elite Controller that cost a whopping $149.99, many assumed that it would be a controller that only the most hardcore out their would purchase. However, that didn’t end up being the case or stopping the sales for the controller going through the roof, as there is now a shortage of the controller that doesn’t seem to be getting resolved anytime soon.
Now Microsoft CMO Chris Capossela has spoken on the latest episode of Windows Weekly where they revealed that they “totally underestimated” the demand for the Xbox One Elite Controllers. He eventually goes on to say that they should have produced 10 times the original amount of controllers they produced, as their current supply isn’t anywhere near what the demand is calling for.
As for a reason why the amount of controllers produced was so low, Capossela reveals that the controller’s steep price tag was the reason they expected sales to be much lower than they were. However, as Capossela traveled to many different retailers in North America recently they all told him that they need way more of these controllers to fill the customer demand. They’re virtually sold out at every major retailer and there are many people on back order lists to get them as soon as they do come back in stock.
The only silver lining to this problem is that Xbox One Elite Controllers are readily available as part of the Xbox One Elite console bundles. If you haven’t picked up an Xbox One yet and are interested in the Elite Controller then you’ll be all set. However, these bundles cost $500 and are of no use to those who already own an Xbox One and are just looking to pick up the controller. Microsoft is doing everything they can to make sure that they have far more of these controllers for retailers to stock in 2016.
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